Column.



H'. C.- PFAFF.

COLUMN.

APPLICATION FILED IAN-4,19I6.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I ATTOREVS HENRY C. PFAFF, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORTO PFAFF & KENDALL, A CORPORATION OF NEXV JERSEY.

coLUMn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented An 7, 1191 1.

Application filed January 4, 1916. Serial No. 70,088.

' Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New J ersey, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Columns; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinventio-n, such as will enable others skilled V in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings and to characters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention has reference generally, to-

improvements in composite columns for use in structural work; and, thepresent invention relates, more particularly, to a novel construction ofcolumn, combining with a hollow or tubular main casing adapted toreceive a filling, such as concrete or a similar mixture, a cap, orbaseelement, formed with a member extending into and arranged withinsaid main casing at either end thereof, said member of the cap orbase-element being provided with a means of closure for preventing thefilling within the said main casing extending into the hollow part ofthe said cap or base-element, and the said cap or base-element beingprovided with a suit able retaining means adapted to be brought intofrictional holding engagement with a portion of the main casing of thecolumn and with the cap or with the base-element, so as to securely holdthe cap and column, or the baseelement and column, together.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a novel andsimple, as well as efliciently constructed composite column of thegeneral character hereinafter more particularly set forth, combiningwith a filled main casing, a novel cap or base provided with a closureadapted to be arranged within the filled casing for preventing thefilling from extending into the interior of the cap or base, and at thesame time providing between the interior of the main cas ing and aportion or portions of the cap or base-element, a retaining or lockingmeans,

acting by friction, to permanently secure or lock the cap or base andthe main casing of the column together.

Other objects of the present invention not at this time moreparticularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the followingdetailed description of the present lnvention.

. WVith the various objects of the present invention in view, the saidinvention consists, primarily, in the novel column for structural workhereinafter set forth; and, the invention consists, furthermore, in thenovel arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, aswell as in the details of the construction of the said parts, all ofwhich will be more fully described in the following specification andthen finally embodied in the clauses of the claim which are appended toand which form an essential part of the said specification.

The invention is illustrated in the acco1npanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is an elevation of a fragmentary portion of a column and cap,representing one embodiment of the principles of the present inventionof the combined'column and cap, Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section of aportion of the column and cap, said section being represented as takenin a vertical plane in line -2-2 in said Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is ahorizontal sectional representation taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2, saidFigs. 2 and 3 being made on enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional representation of a portion ofa column and a base-element therefor made according to and embodying theprinciples of the present invention.

Figs. 5 and 6 are transverse sectional representations of fragmentaryportions of a column and cap, said views showing still othermodifications of the principles of the present invention.

Similar characters of reference are em ployed in all of the said abovedescribed views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, thereference-character 1 indicates an outer tubular casing or shell of anydesirable cross-section and length, upon the upper end of which ismounted a column-cap, the same comprising in general a main tubular bodyor element, as 2, preferably of the same general cross-section as thatof the said main tubular shell or casing. The said tubular body orelement 2 is formed with a reduced or diminished portion 3, providingwith the said body 2 an external annular shoulder or seat 4;. Connectedwith the upper portion of the said body or element 2 is a. crown-plate5, and extending from the said body or element 2 are beamflanges, as 6,to which may be suitably secured the usual beams. The said tubular bodyor element 2 may also be provided with the usual reinforcing orstrengthening brackets 7, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 1 of thedrawings.

As shown in Figs. 2, and (S of the drawings, the reduced or diminishedportion of the body or element 2 is made with a closing member, as 8,forming an integral part of the said portion 3. Extending upwardly fromsaid closing member 8 and integrally connected with the wall of the saidreduced or diminished portion 3 are wall-like mem bers 9, 10 and 11which provide marginal chambers 12, preferably closed at the top, as at13, and open, as at 14, as will be seen from an inspection of Figs. 2and 3 of the drawings. As shown in said F 2 of the drawings, the innersurface 15 of the walllik'e member 9 tapers in a direction from theupper part to the lower part of said walllike members.

In assembling the said main column-casing or shell 1 andv thecolumn-(mp, the reduced or diminished portion 3 of the body or element 2is inserted in the upper open end of the said casing or shell 1, untilits seat +1 rests directly upon the terminal ,portion of the said casingor shell, a key or wedge-shaped retaining member or element, as 16,having first been placed in each chamber 12, through the open part 14.Each retaining member or element 16 is made with the straightedge-portion 17 adapted to register with the inner surface of thewallportion of the main outer casing or shell 1, and with an inclinededge-portion, as 18, adapted to register with correspondingly inclinedor tapering surface-portion 15 of the wall-like member 9, substantiallyas shown in said Fig, 2 of the drawings. Each key or wedgeshapedretaining member or element 16 is also provided with a downwardlyprojecting shank or stem 19, each shank or stem having a screw threadedportion for the re ception thereon of a nut 20. In those portions of thepreviously-mentioned closing member 8, located beneath the said chambers 12 are perforations or holes 21 into which the said screw-threadedshanks or stems 19 extend and project below the said member 8, as shown,and for the reception thereon of the said nuts 20.

From an inspection of said Fi 2 it will be clearly understood that whenthe said nuts 20 are screwed up, the column-cap and end-portion of themain shell or casing will. be brought into their tightened relation,securely against displacement or accidental separation. I

Referring now to Fig. 4. of the drawings, in which is shown abase-member or element for the column-casing or shell 1, thereference-character 22 indicates a suitable baseplate provided with anupwardly extending tubular body or element 23 formed with a reduced ordiminished portion 24:, forming with the said body 23 an externalannular shoulder or seat 25. The said tubular body or element 23 may beformed with the reinforcing or strengthening brackets 26 which areconnected with the base-plate 22, and the reduced or diminished portion2 1 of the said body or element 23 is made with a closing member 27,forming an integral part of the said portion 2 1.

Extending downwardly from the said closing member 26 and integrallyconnected with the wall of the said reduced or diminished. portion 24are wall-like members 28, similar in arrangement to the previously-,mentioned wall-like members 9, 10 and 11, which provide marginalchambers 29, preferably closed at the bottom, as at 30, and open atone-side, as at 31, and at the top, as at As shown in said Fig. 4, theinner surface of the wall-like member 29 opposite the open side 31inclines or tapers substantially in the manner shown.

In assembling the said column-casing or shell 1 and the base-member orelement, the reduced or diminished portion 24 of the tubular body orelement 23 is inserted in the lower open end of the said casing or shell1, until its seat rests directly upon the terminal portion of the saidshell or casing, a key or wedgeshaped retaining member or element, as3%, having first been placed in each chamber 29. Each retaining memberor element 3 1 is made with the straight edgeportion 35 adapted toregister with the inner surface of the wall-portion of the main outercasing or shell 1, and with an inclined edge-portion, as 36,;ulapted toregister with the correspondingly. inclined or tapering surface-portion33 of the wall-like member 28, substantially as shown in said Fig. 1 ofthe drawings. Each key or wedge-shaped retaining member-or element 3-1-is also provided with a downwardly projecting stem or shank 37,extending through a hole or opening 38 in each bottom 30, and said stemsor shanks being of such lengths that they can be made to extend into andfrom suitable holes or openings 39 in the base memher or element 22, asshown, and each pro jecting shank-portion being made screwthreaded forthe reception thereon of a nut 40.

From an inspection of said Fig. 4: it will be evident, that when thesaid nuts 10 are screwed up, the said base-element or member and lowerend-portion of the main shell or casing will be brought into theirtightened relation, securely against displacement or accidentalseparation.

The interior of the said main casing or shell, 1, located between theclosing members or plates 8 and 27 is filled, in any suitable manner,with a reinforcing filling 4:1, in the form of concrete or othersuitable mixture, which subsequently hardens within the said casing orshell 1, and thereby provides a rigid, strong and fire-proof reinforcedcolumn for use in structural work, as will be clearly evident.

One means for inserting the filling 4:1 in place within the shell orcasing 1 is to provide the closing member or plate 8 of the column-capwith a screw-threaded hole 12 of any suitable size, for passing orflowing the reinforcing filling through the said closing member or plate8, after which the said opening or hole 42 is closed by means of asuitable screw-plug, as 413.

In lieu of the screw-threaded hole 42 and screw-plug 43, the closingmember or plate 8 may be made with a tapered hole or opening 44 forfilling purposes, into which can be tightly driven a tapered plug, as45, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.

As will be seen from an inspection of Fig.

a, the closing member or plate 27 may also be provided with a fillinghole or opening, as 46, adapted to be closed by means of a hung or plug47.

Other forms of fastening or retaining devices are shown in Figs; 5 and'6of the drawmgs.

Thus, in Fig. 5, the' closing plate or member S and the reduced ordiminished portion of the column-cap are provided with the wall-likeportions 48 and 19, providing keyreceiving chambers 50, open at the top,.as at 51, and at one side, as at 52. Within each chamber 50 is anarrangement of suitably tapered keys, as 53, 54 and 55, the key 55 beingadapted to be firmly driven down between the binding keys 53 and 54:,whereby the column-cap and the main shell or casing 1 will be securelyheld in their assembled relation, as will be clearly understood.

In the modification represented in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the closingplate or member 8 and the reduced or diminished portion of thecolumn-cap are provided with the wall-like portions 56 and 57 and closedtop 58 providing marginal receiving chambers 59. One of'said wall-likeportions, as 56, has a tapering binding surface-portion 60. lhe mainshell or casing 1 is also formed with a tapering binding surface-portion61, extending into the side-opening 62 of the chamber 59, and locatedopposite the tapering surface-portion 60.

Vithin each chamber 59 is an expansion device, as 63, of any suitableand well known construction, provided with an operating bolt 6 1 havinga nut-shaped head, as 65, extending into an opening 66 in the closingmember or plate 27 for engagement therewith of a suitable Wrench. Aplate 67 within the chamber 59, into which the screwthreaded end-portionof the said bolt (it screws;,when the head is operated, prevents turningof the expansion device within the chamber, while bringing the frictioncones of the device into positive holding or retaining engagement withthe tapering binding surface-portions 60 and 61, as will be clearlyunderstood from an inspection of said Fig. 6, so as to securely hold thecolumncap in its position upon the end of the column-casing or shell 1.

From the foregoing description of my present invention it will beclearly seen that a simply constructed and effectively and easilyoperated mechanical binding means is provided which securely retains thecolumncap or base-member by friction in their engaged relation with therespective end-portions of the main shell or casing 1 of the column,

I am aware, that changes may be made in the general arrangements andcombinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the detailsof the construction of the said parts and in the general conformation ofthe same, without departing from the scope of the present invention asset forth in the fore- 9 going speclfication, and as defined 1n theclauses of the claim which are appended to and which form a part of thesaid specification. Hence, I do not limit my present invention to theexact arrangements and combinations of the said devices and parts asdescribed in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to theexact details of the construction of the said parts, as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

. I claim 1. A column comprising a casing and a filling therein,combined with a hollow element in the form of a cap or base for thecolumn, said hollow element being provided with a closing member,wall-members extending from said. closing member, one of saidwall-members having a tapering surface, a wedge-shaped retaining device,said device having a portion in engagement with the tapering surface ofsaid wall-member, and means connected with said wedgeshaped retainingdevice for bringing said device into frictional binding engagement withsaid tapering surface and the oppositely located surface-portion of saidcolumn for securing said elements in assembled relation.

2. A column comprising a casing and a filling therein, combined with ahollow element in the form of a cap or base for the column, said hollowelement having a reduced portion fitted into said casing, the reducedportion of said hollow element being formed with a means of closure alsosion of the filling within said casing into within said casing toprevent the eXtensaid hollow element, allanembers extending from saidmeans of closure, one of said wall-inen'ibers having a tapering surface,a wedgeshaped retaining device, said device having a portion inengagement with the tapering surface of said wall-member, and meansconnected with said wedge-shaped retaining device for bringing saiddevice into frictional binding engagement with said tapering surface andthe oppositely located surface-portion of said column for securing saidelements in assembled relation.

3. A column comprising a casing and a filling therein, combined with ahollow element in the form of a cap or base for the column, said hollowelement having a reduced portion fitted into said casing, said reducedport-ion having a platelike means of closure forming an integral part ofsaid reduced portion also within said casing, to prevent the extensionof the filling within said casing into the said hollow element, the saidplate-like means of closure being formed with wall-members, one of saidwallmembers having a tapering surface, said wall-members providing areceiving chamher, ,a wedge-shaped retaining device within said chamber,said device having a portion in engagement with the tapering surface ofsaid wall-member, and means connected with said wedge-shaped retainingdevice for securing said elements in assembled relation.

4-. A column comprising a casing and a filling therein, combined with ahollow element in the form of a cap or base for the column, said hollowelement having a reduced portion fitted into said casing, said re ducedportion having a plate-like means of closure forming an integral part ofsaid re duced portion also within said casing, to

prevent the extension of the filling Within said casing into the saidhollow element,

her, and means connected with said wedgesl-iaped retaining device forbringing said casing and one of said Willi-ilkG portions for securingsaid elements in assembled relation.

A column comprising a casing and a filling therein, combined with ahollow element in the form of :a cap or base for the column, said hollowelement having a reduced iportion filled into said casing, said reducedportion having a plate-like means of closure forming an integral ,partof said reduced portion also within said casing, to prevent theextension of the filling within said easing into the said hollowelement, wall-like portions connected with said platelike means ofclosure, said Wall-like portions forming a receiving chamber, and aplatelike meansot closure being provided directly beneath said chamberwitha hole, a wedges'haped retaining element within said chamber, ascrew threaded shank extending from said wedge-shaped retaining elementinto and through the hole in said ,yplate-like means of closure, and anut upon said shank for bringing said wedge-shaped retaining elementinto frictional engagement with a portion of said casing and one of saidwall-like portions forsecuring said elements in assembled relation.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 80th day of December, 1915.

- HENRY C. PFAFF. lVitnesses:

FREDK C. FRA-E'NTZEL, FREDK H. W. FRAENTZEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. "0.

